Reveal the truth! Mama June shocked everyone by not hesitating to use every dirty trick to gain custody of Kaitlyn!
Mama June Shannon has officially gained custody of Anna “Chickadee” Cardwell‘s daughter Kaitlyn. There has been a long court battle for custody of her granddaughter since Anna’s death in December 2023. She smeared Anna’s ex, Michael Cardwell, in court, pointing to instances of past abuse. Here is what was revealed.
Mama June Expressed Wanting Custody Before Anna Died
June was granted full custody of 12-year-old Kaitlyn on Friday, September 20. Michael Cardwell initially filed to regain custody of Kaitlyn and get visitation with his stepdaughter in December 2023, following Anna’s death.
As Mama June fans know, Anna Cardwell passed away on December 9, 2023, after battling stage 4 adrenal carcinoma. The mom-of-two left things unsettled when it came to her children. Her eight-year-old daughter Kylee would go to live with her biological father, Michael.
However, when it came to Kaitlyn, it was not clear who would gain custody. Anna told June that she wanted her husband, Eldridge Toney, to take Kaitlyn, but he did not want the responsibility.
Mama June expressed her desire to have custody of Kaitlyn before Anna died. An episode of Mama June: Family Crisis that aired in June showed the mother and daughter having a conversation about who would get Kaitlyn.
“Kaitlyn will be better off with me, because there is stability,” June said at the time. “But Eldridge has been in Kaitlyn’s life since she was around 5 years old. Honestly, she needs to put this sh*t on paper.”
Court Ruling Gives June Shannon Full Legal & Physical Custody
In the court ruling, a Wilkinson County judge wrote that, although Kaitlyn spent time in Michael’s care, he “never provided any significant financial support” for her. On top of that, the court documents cited a family therapist who testified that Kaitlyn “fears being taken away from” her grandmother and has “expressed a desire to stay” with Mama June.
“Legal and physical custody of the minor child is to remain with the Defendant [Shannon] and Plaintiff [Michael] will have no right to visitation as such, unless otherwise expressly agreed to by the parties and the minor child,” the judge concluded.
Mama June was first granted temporary custody of Kaitlyn earlier this year. Michael’s initial filings against the WeTV star argued that Kaitlyn shouldn’t be separated from her sister. He also claimed that June and Anna had a strained relationship.
Countering Michael’s claim, June alleged that he’d been abusive to Anna when they were married. She simply stated that it was in the child’s best interest to continue living with her.
Michael’s attorney denied any allegations of abuse. They issued a statement saying, “This is the first time that any of these allegations have been made against him. He and Anna had a great relationship when they were married and simply separated due to differences in opinions and personalities.”
Mama June: Familly Crisis is currently on hiatus.
